Oscillator drive mechanism



Aug. 21, 1951 F. A. LANE 2,564,982

OSCILLATOR DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Aug. l5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I?. 3. FFI/.D H. LM,

TTOFMET( Aug. 2l, 1951 F, A, LANE 2,564,982

oscILLAToR DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l HTTOFNI/ Patented Aug. 21, 1951 OSCILLATOR. DRIVE MECHANISM Fred A. Lane, Shelburn, Ind., assignor to Lane Motors, Incorporated, Terre Haute, Ind., a. corporation of Indiana Application August 15, 1947, Serial No. 768,803

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to an oscillator drive mechanism, and is particularly concerned with means for converting continuous rotary motion to oscillatory motion of unusually wide angular magnitude. The primary object of the invention, then, is to provide novel mechanism establishing a driving connection between a unidirectional rotor and an element to be oscillated about a xed axis, the drive train being or such character as to be capable of swinging the oscillator through an arc substantially in excess of 180 as a result of continuous rotation of the rotor.

A further object of the invention is to provide extremely simple drive-connection mechanism capable of accomplishing the above-outlined result, such mechanism being unusually sturdy and consisting solely of levers and swivels, without the inclusion of toothed gears.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the angular extent of the oscillatory stroke of the driver element may be varied by a simple adjustment. A still further object of the invention is to make such adjusting means of such character as to be actuable during operation of the motion converter.

Additional objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specic constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a housing enclosing one embodiment of my invention, the cover plate having been removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, taken substantially upon the planes indicated by the section line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a substantially vertical section taken substantially upon the planes indicated by the f section line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic bottom plan views, upon a reduced scale, of the drive train of Fig. 1 in various positions assumed during the cycle of operation;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental, longitudinal sectional view of the output end of the drive train of Fig. 6; and

Figs, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic plans of the drive train of Fig. 6 in various positions assumed during the cycle of operation thereof.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that I have illustrated a housing Il] formed with an integral top wall I I and an open bottom adapted to be closed by a cover plate 8 suitably secured to the housing I0 by machine screws 9, or the like, with an intervening gasket, if desired, to make the housing liquid-tight, whereby the parts to be described may, if desired, run immersed in lubricant.

An opening I2 inv the housing wall II may mount a bushing or bearing I3 in which is journalled a shaft I4 carrying, within the housing, a worm gear I5 with which meshes a worm IE on a power input shaft I'I suitably journalled in the housing 'and driven by any desired power means.

Within the housing I0, the shaft I4 carries or is provided with, a cylindrical stem I8 upon which is mounted a ring I9, rotationally iixed to said stem, but capable of sliding axial movement relative thereto. The ring I 9 is formed with an outwardly opening peripheral groove 20. suitably journalled in'a bore 2| in the housing, upon an axis parallel with the axis of the shaft I4, is an adjusting shaft 22 carrying a stop collar 23 and having a threaded section 24 upon which is threadedly mounted a yoke 25 whose oppositely projecting' arcuate fingers are operatively received in the groove 20 of the ring I9. It will be obvious, particularly from an inspection of Fig. 3, that rotational adjustment of the shaft 22 in opposite directions will shift the ring I 9 axially oppositelyrelative to the stem I8.

A rocker 26 is socketed in the ring I9 upon an axis tangential to a circle concentric with the shaft I4, and afpin 21 projects radially from said rocker. The structure, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, permits oscillation of the rocker 26 andl pin 21 in a plane including the axis of the shaft I4 and stem I8. A second rocker 28 is socketed in the stem I8 upon an axis parallel with r the axis of the rocker 26 and perpendicularly intersecting the axis of the stem I8. Said rocker 28 is formed with a transaxial bore 29 therethrough, slidably receiving the projecting end of the pin 21. Radially projecting from the rocker 28, in the plane of the axis of the pin 2l, but angularly related thereto is a pin 30.

The stem I8 carries, at its lower end, a block 3I formed with a guideway 32 which extends transaxially of the stem I3; and a block 33 is reciprocably mounted in said guideway. A

rocker 34 is socketed in said block 33 for oscillation upon an axis parallel to the axes of oscillation of the rockers 26 and 28. The rocker 34 is formed with a transaxial bore 35 slidably receiving the projecting end of the pin 30.

It will be readily perceived that, as the ring I9 is moved downwardly from its illustrated position, the rockers 26 and 28 will be turned in a clockwise direction, the pin 21 sliding farther into the bore 29; whereby the pin 30 will be f bodily shifted in a clockwise direction, about the axis of the rocker 28, will slide farther into the bore 35, and will bodily shift the block 33 toward the left, concurrently turning the rocker 34 in a clockwise direction in its socket.

The block 33 is socketed to receive a trunnion pin 33 which projects downwardly therefrom, through a slot 35 opening downwardly from the guideway 32, the axis of said trunnion being parallel with the axis of the shaft I4. The parts are so proportioned and designed that, when the ring I9 has been moved downwardly to the limit of its stroke, the axis of the trunnion pin 36 will coincide with the axis of the shaft I4.

The trunnion pin is fixed relative to the block 33 by a machine screw 31, or the like, preferably projecting into a socket suitably formed in said pin. Its downward extension forms a pivotal mounting for one end 38` of a pitman 39. If desired, a bushing may surround the pin 36 in the eye of said pitman end, and the pitman end may be held in place on the trunnion pin by a cotter pin 40, or the like, a washer preferably being interposed between said cotter pin and the pitman end 38.

Depending from the wall Il of the housing I is a bracket 4I providing a trunnion 42 whose axis is parallel with the axis of the shaft I4. Journalled on said trunnion 42 is a bell crank lever 43, held in place by a cotter pin 44, or the like. O-ne short arm 45 of said lever terminates in a trunnion pin 46 providing a iOurnal mounting for the other end 41 of the pitman 39, said pitman end being held in place by a cotter pin 4S, or the like. The other arm 49 of said lever 43 is substantially longer than the arm 45, and is acutely angularly related to said arm. The outer end of said arm 49 provides a swivel mounting for a block 50, said block being journalled in an opening l in said lever arm 49 and secured therein by means of a washer and machine screw 52, or the like. Near its upper end, the block 50 is formed with a transaxial socket 53 and one end of a pin 55 is secured in said socket by means of a cross pin 54, or the like.

An opening 56 in the wall I I paraxial with the opening I2, is preferably bushed to receive an oscillator 51 formed, within the housing I0, with a transaxial bore 58 in which is mounted a bushing 59, the end 60 of the pin 55 being slidably received in said bushing.

With the parts in their illustrated positions, the oscillator 51 is at the counterclockwise limit of its stroke, as viewed in Fig. 1. If, now, the worm gear I5 is driven to turn the shaft I4 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the end 38 0f the pitman 39 will be moved toward the left, whereby the arm 45 of the lever 43 will be moved in a clockwise direction about the axis of the trunnion 42. It will be noted that the axis of said trunnion, while parallel with the axes of the shaft I4 and the oscillator 51 is substantially oifset from a line joining said axes. The above-described movement of the arm 45 will, of course, be accompanied by an equal angular movement of the arm 49; but, because of the difference in the lengths of said arms, the block 50 will travel a much longer path than will be travelled by the trunnion 46. Because of the onset between the axes of the elements 42 and 51, the distance between the axes of the block 50 and the element 51 will vary as the lever 43 swings in a clockwise direction. The arm 49 being longer than the lineal distance between the axes of the elements 42 and 51, the block 50 will swing out beyond (though very close to) the element 51, the pin 55 sliding transaxially relative to the element 51 during such movement. In Fig. 4, I have illustrated the positions of the parts after the rotor I9 has been turned through from its position illustrated in Fig. 1; and in Fig. 5, I have illustrated the positions of the parts after of movement of said rotor. It will be readily perceived, from a consideration of the drawings, that the axis of the block 50 twice crosses a line drawn through the axis of the oscillator 51 and normal to a line joining the said axis with the axis of the trunnion 42, during movement of the pin 36 from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 5, and twice crosses that line again during movement of the element 36 from its position shown in Fig. 5 to its position shown in Fig. 1. Of course, as the rotor continues in clockwise movement from the position of Fig. 5, the lever 43 reverses its movement and swings, in a counterclockwise direction, back to the position of Fig. 1. When the pin 36 has turned 90 in a clockwise direction from its position of Fig. 5, the parts, other than the pitman 39, will occupy substantially the positions of Fig. 4.

With the parts adjusted as shown in Figs. l and 2, rotation of the rotor produces approximately 217 of oscillation of the oscillator 51, in each direction, for each revolution of the rotor.

It will be entirely clear, from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3, that if the ring I9 is shifted downwardly to the limit of its stroke to bring the axis of the pin 35 into coincidence with the rotor axis, rotation of the rotor will have no effect upon the oscillator assembly. Of course, such adjustment of the pin 36 will, of itself, shift the parts of the drive train substantially to the positions shown in Fig. 4. It will also be clear that incremental adjustment of the ring i9 upwardly from such limiting position will incrementally increase the effect of rotor rotation upon the oscillator assembly until the opposite limiting position, illustrated in the drawings, is reached.

Referring, now, to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, it will be seen that I have shown a somewhat similar housing 5I in which is journalled a rotor 62 which may be similar, or identical, in construction with the rotor illustrated in Figs. l to 5. Said rotor is provided with an eccentrically related trunnion pin 63 and is adapted to be driven by a worm 64 upon a power input shaft 65.

A lever 66 has one end 61 received in a fitting 69, journalled upon the pin 63, means, such as a screw 69, being provided for xedly securing said lever end to the fitting 63.

Depending from the top wall 1e of the housing el is a mounting tube 1I having a bushing 12 therein, in which is journalled a fulcrum element 13. Said element 13 is provided with a transaxial bore 14 in which is slidably received the central portion of the lever 66.

Depending from the wall 'I0 of the housing is a bracket 15, similar to the bracket 4I, and

termed to provide a trunnion l5 upon which is journal mounted one end il of a lever fl.. The axes of the rotor fulcrum element 7.8, and pin 1 6 are disposed in a Vcommon plane and fin mutual parallelism, and the axis of the ,fulcrum element 13, in the preferred embodiment of my invention is located midway `between the axes of the rotor .62 and pin l'.

yintermediate its ends, the lever "18 swivelly carries a doivnwardly-projeoting post 19 formed with a transaxial bore Se capable of alignment with the bore le, and the end 8l of the lever 66 is slidably received in said bore 80.

At its outer end 82, the lever 18 swivelly carries an upstanding post 55 formed with ,a transaxial bore 34 slidably receivinga pin 5 fixed in a transaxial bore ,ad in an oscillator element 8l similar to the element 5l and mounted in the bore 88 of a guide tube B9 depending from the wall 10.

It will be seen that, when the pin 63 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, the lever 'I8 is at one end of its oscillatory stroke. If, now, the rotor G2 is turned in a clockwise direction, the lever Eli will be shifted axially toward the left, and concurrently will be swung, in a clockwise direction, about the axis of the fulcrum element 13. Thereby, the post 'i9 will be forced to move in a clockwise direction about the fixed axis of the trunnion 16; and the resultant movement of the lever 'i8 will cause the pin 85 to swing in a clockwise direction, thereby turning the oscillator 8l'. When the pin G3 has reached the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the parts will be in their median positions; and further clockwise movement of the rotor will swing the parts to the positions illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein the lever 'i8 is at the opposite end of its stroke. It will be perceived that the post 83 has twice crossed a line drawn through the axis of the oscillator il and normal to a line joining the axes of the trunnion 76 and the oscillator $1, during movement of the parts from the positions illustrated in Fig. 6 to the positions illustrated in Fig. 9. As the pin 53 completes a full rotation, the parts will be turned again through the positions of Fig. 8 to the positions of Fig. 6.

Obviously, the pin 53 may, if desired, be associated with the rotor 62 through the adjusting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

I claim as my invention:

1. An oscillator drive mechanism comprising, in combination with an element to be oscillated about a rst axis, means providing a journal axis eccentric to said rst axis, a lever journalled for oscillation on said journal axis, means including a rod providing an operative connection between an arm of said lever and said element, said rod operatively connecting said lever arm and said element and having a sliding connection, in the direction of its own length, with one of the parts connected thereby, and means to swing said level` arm oscillably past said first axis.

2. The organization of claim 1 in which said last-named means comprises a rotating member, means for driving said rotating member, and means eccentrically connecting another arm of said lever with said rotating member.

3. The organization of claim 1 in which said last-named means comprises a rotating member, means eccentrically associated with said rotating member, and means providing an operative connection between said lever and said eccentrically associated means.

4. 'Ihe organization of claim 3 in which said eccentrically-associated means is adjustable radially toward and away from the axis of rotation of said rotating member.

5. `The organization of claim 4 including means operatively associated with said eccentrically-associated means and shiftable, during rotation of said rotating member, to adjust said eccentricallyassociated means toward or away from Said axis of rotation.

6. An oscillator drive mechanism comprising an element journal mounted for oscillation about a xed axis, a rotor journal mounted. for rotation about a p arallel axis, a lever mounted for oscillation about a third parallel axis spaced from a line joining said inst-named axes, a pit- Inan joining a point on said rotor eccentric to the axis thereof with one arm of said lever, and a rod joining the other arm of said lever with said element, said rod having a sliding connection, in the direction oi' its own axis, with one of the parts joined thereby.

7. The organization of claim 6 in which the first-named arm of said lever is relatively short and the last-named arm thereof is relatively long and arranged at an acute angle to said rst-named arm.

8. The organization of claim 6 in which the point of connection of said pitman to said rotor is radially adjustable toward and away from the axis of rotation of said rotor.

9. The organization of claim 6 including means, operable during rotation of said rotor, for shifting the point of connection or" said pitman with said rotor toward or away from the axis of rotation of said rotor.

l0. An oscillator drive mechanism comprising an element journal mounted for oscillation about a fixed axis, a rotor journal mounted for rotation about a parallel axis, a lever mounted for oscillation about a third parallel axis intersected by a line joining said rst-named axes, a fulcrum member mounted for oscillation about a fourth axis parallel with said axes and located between said rotor and said lever axis and intersecting said line, a second lever having one end connected eccentrically to said rotor, supported intermediate its ends upon said fulcrum member for movement in the line of its own axis relative to said fulcrum member, and connected near its opposite end, to said first-named lever through a sliding, swivel connection, and a rod operatively connecting said first-named lever with said element and having a sliding connection with one of its connected parts.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 in which the axis of oscillation of said fulcrum member is midway between the axis of said rotor and the axis of oscillation of said rst-named lever.

12. An oscillator drive mechanism comprising an element journal mounted for oscillation about a fixed axis, a rotor journal mounted for rotation rabout a parallel axis, a lever mounted for oscillation about a third parallel axis, a fulcrum post journal mounted for oscillation about a fourth axis parallel with said axes and having a transaxial bore therethrough, a second lever slidably received in said bore, one end of said second lever being eccentrically connected to said rotor, a post swivelly mounted on said rst-named lever intermediate its ends, and formed with a transaxial bore therethrough, the opposite end of said second lever being slidably received in said bore, a second post swivelly mounted on said first-named lever adjacent its free end and formed with a transaxial bore therethrough,

and a pin radially projecting from said element and slidably received in said last-named bore.

13. The mechanism of claim 12 in which said fulcrum post axis is midway between said rotor axis and the axis of oscillation of said rstnamed lever.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 in which the axis of oscillation of said element, the axis of rotation of said rotor, the axis of oscillation of said first-named lever, and the axis of oscillation of said fulcrum post are disposed in a common plane.

15. An oscillator drive mechanism comprising an element journal mounted for oscillation about a fixed axis, a rotor journal mounted for rotation about a parallel axis, a lever mounted for oscillation about a third parallel axis, a member eccentrically connected to said rotor and eccentrically connected to said lever and providing a driving connection lbetween said rotor and said lever, and a rod operatively joining said lever with said element, said rod having a sliding connection, in the direction of its own axis, with one of the parts joined thereby.

16. The organization of claim 15 in which the point of connection of said member with said lever is closer to said third axis than is the point of connection of said rod with said lever.

17. The organization of claim 15 in which the point of connection of said member with said rotor is radially adjustable toward and away from the axis of said rotor.

18. The organization of claim 15 including means, operable during rotation of said rotor, for shifting the point of connection of said member with said rotor Vtoward or away from the axis of rotation of said rotor.

FRED A. LANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,176 Breed Jan. 10, 1882 277,025 Hadley et al May 8, 1883 301,115 Gowdy July 1, 1884 1,796,753 Greene Mar. 17, 1931 2,237,919 Weid Apr. 8, 1941 2,319,485 Alabrune May 18, 1943 

